Differential action girdle



1969 L. L. KRIEGER DIFFERENTIAL ACTION GIRDLE Filed Nov. 10, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Aug. 5, 1969 L. KRIEGER DIFFERENTIAL ACTION GIRDLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10, 1965 I N VENTOR Larry L. Krqyer ATTORNEY Aug. 5, 1969 L. L. KRIEGER DIFFERENTIAL ACTION GIRDLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 10, 1965 INVENT OR Larry L. ffrviqqer Mam/4 ATTORNEY L. L. KRIEGER DIFFERENTIAL ACTION GIRDLE Aug. 5, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 10, 1965 INVE/V'T'OR Larry L. Krieger AT TORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 128-541 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A girdle that encircles and constricts the lower torso of the wearer having its entire waistband circumference defining an area, which extends downwardly from the top margin of the girdle for a substantial distance, of material more resistant to circumferential stretch than a single thickness of the fabric used to form at least part of its side portions, and the girdle having extreme side portions of double thickness of such fabric that extend to the bottom of the girdle, and side portions adjacent to the extreme side portions both in the front and rear of the girdle of single thickness of such fabric, which side portions extend from the bottom of the girdle upwardly for a substantial distance.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 482,420, filed Aug. 25, 1965, now abandoned.

This invention is an improved girdle in which the elastic side bodies are reinforced with a second thickness of elastic in limited areas selected to give greater stress where greater stress is needed and greater ease where not so much stress is needed.

It has long been established that a restrictive garment about the abdomen, hips and buttocks can give a much trimmer and more attractive appearance to the female figure. There are complications in doing this however. Greater restrictive forces are needed on some portions of the body than can be tolerated on others and different parts of the torso portion of the body elongate, for example in sitting, while others do not.

The present invention is calculated to give a maximum combination of: distribution of controlling forces in accordance with the needs of the different portions of the torso; differential stretch characteristics in accordance with the amount of stretch required, and smoothness of transistion boundaries from one type of area to another.

I obtain my diiferential stress distribution by making the body portion of this girdle of elastic material and incorporating a second thickness of like material in certain selected areas. I secure diflferential stretch characteristics in accordance with the amount of stretch required by providing the additional thickness in the areas that should not stretch much and single thickness in the areas that need to stretch more. Fortunately the anatomical needs are such that the area that needs the most controlling force, to wit the abdomen, does not need to stretch much, while the area that needs to stretch the most, to wit the seat, does not need as much conrolling force. In practicing the invention I identify approximate boundaries between these two types of areas, and I arrange for the junctions between double thickness areas and single thickness areas to come approximately at these boundaries.

I attain a high degree of smoothness in the transition from single thickness to double thickness, and reduce the cost of manufacture and increase the service life of the garment, by having the material which extends over the single thickness areas extend also as an integral continuum onto the double thickness areas. In these latter I provide a second thickness of the elastic material and sew its edge to the continuing body of the first thickness of material.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention I provide a front abdominal panel which has vertical stretch but has essentially no stretch horizontally. Adjoining this panel at its sides are areas of double thickness of elastic. Adjoining this panel toward its bottom are areas of single thickness of elastic. The double thickness areas of elastic extend around to the back where they adjoin a back center panel that may be also of double thickness of elastic or may be of horizontally inelastic material. The area of double thickness elastic between the front and rear panels is continuous at the waistline and for several inches on down. Then it tapers in and narrows to extend on down the outside line of each leg as a broad strip. Single thickness areas extend up from the bottom on the garment at both sides of this broad strip, the one at the rear side extending farther up yet ending well below the waistline.

In the vicinity of the wastline the double thickness areas extend from the waist down and from the side edges of the front panel to the side edges of the rear panel. These double thickness areas cooperate with the front and rear panels to limit the circumferential stretch of the girdle at the waistline and down for several inches. These double thickness areas adjoin the front panel along both sides and extend down along the side edges of the panel. The double thickness areas span the distances between the front panel and the rear panel on either side of the girdle and where they adjoin the rear panel they extend from the waist down for about three inches along the edges on each side of the rear panel.

The double thickness areas act somewhat like a sling which is anchored across the wearers back and extends over the ilium or upper hip regions to lift and support the front abdominal panel. I find that this arrangement lifts and flattens the abdominal area. The upper hip regions, acting as part of the anchoring area for the lifting of the abdomen, are molded to a smooth pleasing appearance by the forces acting to lift the abdomen. This double thickness area acts also to control the fleshy areas located just above and back to the upper hip regions of the wearer.

The double thickness areas in the vicinity of the upper hip regions and along the waist of the girdle distribute the lifting and anchoring forces acting on the front panel and the hip region around the waist of the girdle and prevent local concentration of these forces. In addition to control features, the double thickness areas provide strong grasping areas on either side of the girdle near the waist. This reinforcing function reduces the incidence of fingernail punctures as force is applied in pulling the girdle over the hips when putting it on and taking it ofi.

I provide a double thickness strip of material down each side of the girdle for patterning the circumferential stretch at successive locations down the length of the girdle. A greater degree of stretching must occur toward the bottom area of the garment as the wearer moves and I have constructed a greater portion of the bottom area of single thickness material. I find that girdles in general tend to move relative to the skin along the outer side regions of the body since it is in this region that the girdle is pulled hardest against the skin during movements. To prevent a large degree of this type movement in my girdle I have provided a second thickness of material over the outer side body regions to lessen the amount of stretching occurring there and to cause the stretching to be transmitted to the single thickness areas.

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I have located the boundaries between the single and double thickness areas in my girdle along lines falling generally along lines of demarcation between areas of the body that elongate and areas that do not elongate during body motions to minimize the rubbing of the girdle on the skin as the wearer moves above. I have placed the double thickness areas over the areas of the body that do not tend to elongate during movement of the body. The adjoining single thickness areas will stretch where stretching is required and this stretching will occur over the areas of the body at locations where the girdle is not pulled so hard against the skin during body motions.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a panty girdle embodying my invention cut open and spread flat to show the relative locations of the several panels.

FIGURE 2 is a stretch illustration of a girdle embodying my invention which has been cut down one side and spread fiat; the girdle in a relaxed state is shown in dotted lines, and the girdle in a stretched state is shown in solid lines.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the panty girdle illustrated in FIGURE 1 as seen on the body, showing the general arrangement of the front panel relative to one of the side panels.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the panty girdle of FIGURE 3, showing the general arrangement of one side panel and the rear panel.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of an open end girdle embodying my invention, showing the general arrangement of the front panel and the side panel.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the girdle of FIG- URE 5 showing the general arrangement of the side panel relative to the back panel.

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 are cross sectional representations of the girdle shown in FIGURE 5 taken along lines corresponding to lines 77, 8-8 and 99 of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of a panty girdle embodying my invention, showing the general arrangement of the front panel and one of the side panels.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the panty girdle of FIGURE 10 showing the general arrangement of one side and the back panel.

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of a panty girdle embodying my invention showing a modified form of side panel.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a panty girdle embodying my invention showing another modified form of side and back panel arrangement.

The panty girdle shown in FIGURE 1, as a preferred embodiment, has an outer layer of two-way stretch elastic made of two halves 11, 12 extending between front center line and rear center line and there seamed together. Inner layer parts are preferably secured to portions of this outer layer by lines of stitching. These parts are a front panel 14, a rear panel 15, and side panels 16, 17.

The front panel 14 of my girdle is made from a single piece of material which stretches only in the vertical direction as incorporated in the girdle. The upper edge of the front panel is coextensive with the waist edge of the girdle and extends for about three inches to either side of the front vertical center line. The sides and the lower edge of the panel are notched or serrated and are constructed to mate with the upper front edges of the inner side panels.

The front panel is placed on the inside of the girdle at center front with the side edges overlapping the upper front corresponding edges of the side panels for about one-quarter inch. The outer layer, the upper front edges of the side panels, and the side edges of the front panel are sewed together by lines of stitching. The lines of stitching are arranged to connect the edges of the side p nels and the front panel and to form a se e Of i mond shaped figures across the surface of the front panel. The diamond point serrations on the front panel, which the lines of stitching follow, constitute the diamond point pattern formed in the front of my girdle.

The rear panel 15 of my girdle is made from the same type elastic material as is the outer layer of the garment. The rear panel is generally egg shaped and is arranged so that the smaller end is located at the rear center of the waist edge of the garment. The upper side edges of the rear panel are placed over the corresponding upper rear edges 22, 24 of the side panels and the overlap thereof is about one-quarter of an inch. The outer layer of material, the upper side edges of the rear panel, and the upper rear edges of the side panels are sewed together by lines of stitching.

The side panels are made of two-Way stretch material similar to the outer layer. At the waistline and for a distance of some three inches down from the waistline the side panels run continuously all the way from the front panel to the rear panel, forming an unbroken double thickness area therebetween. As is evident from FIG- URE 1 the top edges of the side panels 16, 17, for the entire width of the side panels, conform to and define a common border with the waistline of the girdle. The side panels are seamed at their edges to the front and rear panel respectively.

The upper front edges 18, 19 of the side panels are notched or serrated. The serrate front edges extend down the front sides of the girdle along lines generally located along the outer margins of the abdominal region of the girdle. At points about six inches down from the waist edge of the panels the front edges 20, 21 of the side panels leave the front panel and these lower front edges extend on down. They curve smoothly and gracefully away from the front of the girdle and extend on down to the lower edge of the girdle.

The upper rear edges 22, 24 of the inner side panels extend down for about three inches and away from points located at the waist edge and about one inch to either side of the rear vertical center line. The lower rear edges 26, 27 extend from the lower ends of the upper rear edges toward the front of the garment along about arcs starting at the 12 oclock position, the arcs having a radius of about three inches. After about 90 of travel along the arcs toward the front of the girdle the rear edges then extend generally vertically down the sides of the garment to the lower edge thereof to define with the front edges 20, 21 a strip of material 28, 29 extending one down each side of the girdle. This strip is about four inches in width at the trochanter region of the girdle and narrows to about two and one-half inches in width at the lower edge of the garment.

FIGURE 2 is a stretch illustration of another form of my girdle in which I show, in dotted lines, the girdle in its relaxed state and, in solid lines, the girdle in stretched position. The stretch pattern of both open end and panty girdles of my invention can be seen most readily with the comparative showing of the stretch characteristics of an open end girdle. I have used like reference numerals to indicate parts similar to those shown in FIGURE 1.

The girdle shown in solid lines was stretched by subjecting it to the pull produced by twenty-four one-pound weights arranged with twelve weights equally spaced on each side edge of the girdle. The weights were then passed over supporting members attached to parallel bars and the girdle was stretched between the opposing weights. I also attached four one-pound weights, one to each garter position on the girdle, to more nearly duplicate the pull of stockings attached to the garters during wear of the girdle.

In comparing the illustration of the girdle in the rest position and in stretched position three distinct zones of horizontal stretch are evident. I have indicated these three zones, starting at the waist of the girdle, as zones and C. Zone A b g ns at the waist edge of th girdle and extends, as a circumferential band, down the girdle to about the center of the front panel 14. Zone B extends completely around the girdle and is equal in depth to the depth of the lower half of the front panel. Zone C starts immediately below the diamond points of the front panel and extends on down to the bottom edge of the girdle.

In zone A the girdle essentially does not stretch across the front panel but does stretch in the double thickness elastic areas 16, 17 on either side of the front panel 14 and in the rear panel 15. The front panel in the stretched girdle remains, in zone A, the same shape as it was in the rest position and therefore in my illustration the solid lines representing the stretched front panel in this area lie over the broken lines representing the unstretched front panel in the relaxed position. Continuing on across zone A, the double thickness sides and back panel all stretch about an equal amount (but noticeably less than the single thickness areas in the zones B and C).

In zone B, which includes approximately the middle third of the girdle, the stretch varies from the top of the zone to the bottom of the zone. Along the top of zone B, the front panel 14 again does not stretch laterally and the double thickness areas stretch to about the same degree as did the double thickness areas in zone A. The single thickness areas 11, 12 adjoining the back panel and the rear edges of the inner side panels stretch to a greater degree than do the double thickness areas to which they are attached. Due to the greater area of single thickness material near the bottom of zone B the girdle begins to fan out as the bottom of the zone is approached. The lower points of the front panel stretch vertically a little and open up as the single thickness area stretches horizontally. This stretching and opening up of the front panel acts to provide freedom of movement at the front of the girdle at about the region in which the legs bend upwardly as the wearer sits. The single thickness areas in the back of the girdle stretch and permit the wearer to move without discomfort.

In Zone C there is very little double thickness area and it is in this zone that the major stretching takes place in the girdle as the wearer moves about. Consider a line 32 extending down from the waist of the girdle from the center of the top edge to the center of the bottom edge when the girdle is in the relaxed state. In the solid line representation of the girdle in the stretched state the corresponding line 32 is generally parallel to the line 32 until the lower portion of zone B is reached and as it enters zone C it begins to extend away from line 32. The ever increasing distance between line 32 and line 32' as they pass through zones A, B, and C indicates the relative amount of stretching occurring in the girdle from the waist down through the stretch zones. It is thus seen that the girdle has three distinct zones of stretch which vary from maximum circumferential stretch resistance in the first stretch zone around the waist region of the girdle to minimum circumferential stretch resistance in the third zone around the lower region of the girdle. FIGURE 1 for example shows that the first stretch zone A begins at the waist edge of the girdle and extends downwardly to include upper portions of the front panel, the rear panel and the side panels 16 and 17 and has 100% of its total area comprised of material that is more resistant to circumferential stretch than a single thickness of material used to form at least its side panels. The second stretch zone B has a lesser percentage than the first stretch zone of material that is more resistant to circumferential stretch, and the third zone C has a lesser percentage than the second stretch zone of material that is more resistant to circumferential stretch.

In FIGURES 3 and 4 I have illustrated a panty girdle as seen on the body of the wearer. As stated earlier, it has an outer layer which extends over its entire area. The front panel 14 is an inner second layer which extends from the waist down over the abdominal area of the wearers body and the side edges thereof are attached to the upper front edges 18, 19 of the inner side panels. The upper rear edges 22, 24 of the inner side panels are attached to the corresponding edges of the back panel. The depth of the portions of the side panels that are attached to the sides of the back panel is equal to about one-half the depth of the upper front edges attached to the front panel. This arrangement results in the front panel being anchored by the side panels across the relatively unyielding back area of the wearer and causes the double thickness upper region of the girdle to lift and flatten the abdomen as if it were being carried in a sling.

The inner side panels also provide a double thickness of elastic material extending from the waist down over the hips to mold and control the fleshy areas around the hip region. The strips 28, 29 of double thickness material extending down the sides of the girdle control the bulge on the outer thigh in the trochanter area of the wearers torso. The strip areas being more resistant to stretching than are the single thickness areas on either side thereof will pattern the circumferential stretch characteristics of the lower half of the garment. This structure causes a greater amount of the stretching to occur in the single thickness areas and reduces the amount of stretching occurring in the area of the strips. The patterning of the stretch results in less rubbing of the girdle against the skin along the outer thigh regions.

Suitable leg extensions 30, 31 are provided. Each side forms a leg encircling member when joined by a seam located immediately below the crotch region of the girdle. This seam extends from the lower edge of the girdle up for a short distance until a cut out portion is reached in the crotch region of the girdle. A crotch piece is stitched to the edges of the cut out portion and completes the inner sides of the leg extensions. The crotch piece is preferably made from a one way stretch nylon tricot material having the direction of stretch running between the opposite leg extensions.

The double thickness back panel and the double thickness side strips are located over areas which do not elongate much during body motions and in which it is undesirable for large amounts of stretching to occur. The double thickness areas, being more resistant to stretching forces, tend to remain in position and the girdle stretches for the most part along the single thickness areas. These single thickness areas are located over the areas of the body that elongate during body motions and will elongate with the skin of the wearer as she moves about, to eliminate unnecessary rubbing of the girdle on the skin in the areas which are made from double thickness material.

In FIGURES 5 and 6, I have illustrated an open end girdle embodying my invention. The structure of the panels is functionally and structurally similar to that of the previously described panty girdle shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 and I have used like reference numerals to indicate like parts. The open end girdle lifts and flattens the abdominal area and controls the hip bulges in the same manner as does the panty girdle, and the double thickness side strips control the thigh bulge while distributing and patterning the total circumferential stretch over the lower region of the girdle as is done in the panty girdle.

In FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, I have illustrated in cross section views a panty girdle of the type shown in FIG- URE 3. The cross section of FIGURE 7 is taken along a line corresponding to line 7-7 of FIGURE 3 and shows the double thickness of elastic extending from the edges of the front panel to the edges of the rear panel and the position of both the front panel 14 and rear panel 15 in the girdle.

The cross section shown in FIGURE 8 is taken along a line corresponding to line 8-8 of FIGURE 3. This view starting at center front shows the double thickness diamond points of the serrations along the lower edge of the front panel 14, and the single thickness spaces between them. Then it shows the single thickness portions just outboard of the last diamond points, and then the double thickness portions of the girdle formed by side panels 28, 29. The rear panel 15, seen as two corresponding parts, is spaced from the inner side panels leaving a single thickness area between it and the side panels.

The cross section of my girdle in FIGURE 9 is taken along a line corresponding to line 9-9 of FIGURE 3 and shows the outer layer 11, 12 of the leg portions of the girdle, and the inner side panels 28, 29 that extend down the outer front side edges of the girdle.

Referring now to FIGURES 10 and 11, the panty girdle 40 shown therein, embodying a modification of my invention, comprises a front panel 42, a pair of outer side sections 44-44 joined along their upper front side edges to the corresponding side edges of the front panel, a back panel 46 which is joined along its vertical side edges to the rear vertical side edges of the outer side sections, a crotch piece, and a pair of inner side panels 49-49 which are located inside the girdle and extend from the front panel to the back panel and from the waist of the garment down for a portion of the length and width thereof. These inner side panels are constructed so as to extend from the waist of the garment down for about three inches along the vertical edges of the back panel and from the waist region down for about six inches along the upper vertical side edges of the front panel. A strip of the fabric of the inner panels, about four inches wide, extends down from the center of the lower edge of the panels 4949 to the lower edge of the outer side sections 4444. The inner panels are sewed along the edges thereof to the body of the outer panels.

Left and right as used herein will signify at the wearers left and right respectively. The right side section 44 of the panty girdle, as shown in FIGURES 10 and 11 has a generally concave front edge 50 that extends from the waist of the girdle at a point starting about two inches from the front center line of the garment, completely down to the crotch region and then as it continues on down it extends back and under the crotch region around the inside of the leg of the garment and is joined to the inner side edge of the leg portion 51 of the back panel. The back edges 52 of the side sections are generally straight and extend from the waist region down to the lower edge of the girdle. The left side section has a similar front edge and back edge.

The front panel 42 has generally convex right and left side edges with the lower or crotch region thereof being narrower than the upper or waist portion of the panel. The front panel is about half again as wide as the waist portion at a point about one-third the distance down the length of the panel and then it becomes progressively narrower until at the crotch portion it is only about onefourth as wide as the waist portion. The side edges of the front panel are attached to the corresponding front edges of the side sections.

The rear panel 46 has, starting at the waist region, a convex left side edge that extends down to the lower buttock region and then down along a line that extends generally down the rear center area of the leg of the garment. This lower portion of the left side edge is slightly concave. The right side edge is similarly curved. A segment of fabric is removed from the center of the lower edge of the back panel to form an opening which extends up to the lower buttock region of the panel. The opening is about one inch in width and the inner end terminates as a generally smooth curve. The removal of this segment leaves a pair of identical leg portions 51, 51 depending from the lower buttock area of the back panel. These leg portions have generally straight left and right outer side edges which are attached during fabrication to the lower rear edges of the left and right outer side sections. The inner side edges of the leg portions are attached to the lower front side edges of the outer side sections to complete the formation of the outer shell of the body encircling panty girdle. The crotch piece is sewed in to complete the outer portion of the girdle.

The inner left and right side panels are constructed so that the front and rear upper side edges thereof correspond to the edges of the outer side sections at all points at which the side sections are attached to the front and rear panels. The front edges of the inner side panels 49, 49, are attached to about the upper two-thirds of the side edges of the front panel and at a point about twothirds down the length of the front panel (as shown in FIGURE 10), turn inwardly and extend for about two inches from the front edges of the panels. These edges then turn downwardly along an arc of a radius of about one inch for about and extend on down to the lower edges of the outer side sections. The edges then turn abruptly 90 rearwardly and extend for about three inches rearwardly and along the lower edges of the outer sections. The edges then turn abruptly 90 upwardly and extend to points lying on a horizontal line and spaced about four inches to the rear of the lowest point of attachment of the front edges of the inner side panels to the edges of the front panel. The rear edges then extend upwardly and around the sides of the garment along a smooth curve away from the front of the girdle until the edges meet the respective side edges of the back panel at points about four inches down from the waist of the back panel 46. The inner side panels are attached along the edges thereof to the body of the outer side panels, This double thickness construction patterns the total circumferential stretch at successive locations down the length of the garment, and helps distribute the necessary stretching to the single thickness areas where it is more advantageous for it to occur.

FIGURE 12 illustrates still another modification of my invention. The garment is constructed in exactly the same manner as the pantry girdle illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11 and possesses the additional feautre of a double thickness 60 of elastic fabric extending from the center region of rear edge of the vertical leg strip over to the outer edge of the back panel 46. This additional piece of fabric is an extension of the fabric of the inner side panel and is stitched to the outer section in the same manner as is the remaining portion of the inner panel. The provision of the lower rear extension of the inner panel has surprisingly resulted in a garment which will provide lift for the buttocks from the waist area while at the same time controlling the thigh bulge. This lift and control is anchored along the upper waist region of the garment along the double thickness area which is supported by the back and hips of the wearer thereby resulting in an excellent, substantially unyielding anchor point from which the buttocks can be lifted and molded to present a pleasing contour, the abdomen lifted and flattened, and the thigh bulges controlled all in a single garment.

The girdles shown in FIGURES 10-12, all posses a unique leg construction which results in the legs of the girdles having at least three distinct areas of differential stretch, to wit: the area having a relatively low modulus of elasticity in all directions, this area is comprised of the single thickness of elastic fabric; the area on the outer thigh which is of double thickness elastic fabric and therefore of a higher modulus of elasticity; and the back panel leg portions which are generally inelastic in the transverse direction and somewhat elastic in the vertical direction. The combination of the areas of different stretch characteristics has resulted in a garment which controls the thigh bulge on the outer side of the leg of the wearer, and controls the soft bouncy flesh area of the wearers leg just below the crotch area. This control is achieved by having the inner leg portion of the outer side section comprised of a single thickness of elastic fabric, the fabric extending from the front of the garment around the leg under the crotch area to join the leg portion of the back panel along a substantially vertical line extending down the center of the inner rear quarter of the wearers leg. This portion of the back panel is made of a one-way stretch satinel-astic with the stretch direction being orientated in the vertical direction of the garment when it is on the wearers body. This one-way stretch panel provides an anchor point at the rear inner quarter of the leg from which the inner fleshy portion of the leg can be molded and controlled by the single thickness of universal stretch power net.

Referring now toYFIGURE 13 there is illustrated a modified construction of a panty girdle embodying my invention. The front construction of this girdle may be similar to that of the girdles illustrated in FIGURES 1-12 and described above. The back panel 62 however has been modified so'that it extends only from the lower buttock region up to about three inches from the waistline of the garment, The panel is generally oval in shape and covers the buttock region. The outer side sections 44, 44 are lengthened at the back edges of the upper back waist portion and meet in the center of the area above the modified back panel 62. The inner panels 49, 49 are constructed similar to the inner panels described above except that the end portions of the upper back region of the inner panels have been extended so that the two end edges thereof meet and are attached along a line 64 running down the back center of the garment. The inner side panels may, if desired, be made from a single length of fabric and thereby render unnecessary the joining of the two ends of the back of the garment during fabrication thereof.

Also in this embodiment of my invention I do not use depending leg portion of the back panel as in the garment illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11. In this embodiment I extend the outer edge of the outer side section leg portions sufliciently to meet the inner edge of the outer side panel leg portion. This construction controls the thigh bulge in the same manner as does the embodiment described above but results in a softer control of the inner and inner rear areas of the wearers leg due to replacing the relatively inelastic panel area on the leg of the garment with the relatively elastic fabric forming the outer side sections.

While I have disclosed herein preferred embodiments of my invention it will be understood that the teachings of my invention may be incorporated in Whole or in part in many varied embodiments.

I claim:

1. A girdle adapted to encircle and constrict the lower torso of the wearer, said girdle including,

a body layer of material,

a front panel attached to the body layer,

a rear panel attached to the body layer, and

a pair of side panels, said side panels having waist edges, front edges, and rear edges,

the waist edges of the side panels being adjacent to and defining a common border with the waist edges of the body layer to form a double thickness with the said body layer, the upper portions of the front rear edges of said side panels being attached to corresponding upper edges of the front and rear panels in the area which includes the waist edge of the girdle,

the upper portion of the rear edge of each side panel being attached to the corresponding upper edge of the rear panel from the waist of the girdle downwardly for about one-half the depth that the upper portion of the front edge of its respective side panel is attached to the corresponding upper edge of the front panel,

10 the remaining portions of the front and rear edges of the side panels being attached to 1 said body layer of material also to form a double thickness with said body layer, said side panels extending to the bottom of the girdle.

2. Girdle of claim 1, in which the side panels are of less total surface area than said body layer of material, said side panels being attached to corresponding front edges of the front panel from the waist edge of the girdle down for about one-half the length of the front panel and being attached to the corresponding side edges of the back panel from the waist edge of the girdle down for a distance equal to about one-third the length of said front panel.

3.'A stretchable girdle with front and rear panels, extreme side panels, and side portions adjacent the extreme side panels both in front of same and to rear of same, in which I the entire waistline circumference of the girdle defines the upper margin of an area comprising the front panel, the rear panel, and the extreme side panels, which area is of material more resistant to circumferential stretch than a single thickness of the fabric comprising the said side portions,

the extreme side panels extending from top to bottom of the girdle and having top edges which for the entire width of the side panels conform to and define a common border with the waistline of the girdle,

upper front side edges which are attached to about the upper two-thirds of the side edges of the front panel, and

upper rear side edges which are attached to the upper side edges of the rear panel for a distance equal to about one-third the length of the front panel,

the said extreme side panels being at least double the thickness of the aforesaid fabric comprising the side portions,

the side portions extending upwardly from the bottom of the girdle to the said area of more resistant material and being of said single thickness fabric.

4. A girdle adapted to encircle and constrict the lower torso of the wearer comprising a front panel,

a rear panel,

a pair of extreme side panels, and

side portions adjacent the extreme side panels both in front of same and to rear of same,

the extreme side panels having waist edges, front edges, and rear edges,

the said waist edges, for the entire width of the side panels, being adjacent to and defining a common border with the waist edge of the girdle, the girdle having a first stretch zone around the waist region of the girdle which begins at the waist edge of the girdle and extends downwardly to include upper portions of the front panel, the rear panel and the extreme side panels,

which zone has of its total area comprised of material that is more resistant to circumferential stretch than a single thickness of material used to form at least its side portions, a second stretch zone extending around the center region of the girdle,

having a lesser percentage than the first stretch zone of material that is more resistant to circumferential stretch than a single thickness of material used to form at least its side portions, the remaining area being of single thickness material, and a third stretch zone extending around the lower region of the girdle,

having a lesser percentage than the second stretch zone of material that is more resistant to circumferential stretch than a single thickness of material used to form at least its side portions, the remaining area being of single thickness material, the stretch characteristics of said zones ranging from maximum circumferential stretch resistance in the first stretch zone around the waist region of the girdle to minimum circumferential stretch resistance in the third zone around the lower region of the girdle. 5. Girdle of claim 4 in which the front edges of the extreme side panels are attached to corresponding edges of the front panel from the waist edge of the girdle downwardly for about two-thirds the length of the front panel and the rear edges of the extreme side panels are attached to corresponding edges of the rear panel 12 from the waist edge of the girdle downwardly for a distance equal to about onethird the length of the said front panel. 6. Girdle of claim 4, in which the side panels are provided with integral generally rectangular extensions which extend rearwardly from the lower center regions of the rear side edges thereof to the corresponding rear edges of the rear panel adjacent the buttock region of the girdle. 7. Girdle of claim 4, in which the upper rear edges of said side panels are joined together at the upper center rear region of the girdle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,663,871 12/1953 Erteszek 128-528 2,872,927 2/1959 Erteszek 128548 2,879,771 3/1959 Bell 128-546 3,133,541 5/1964 Lewis et a1. l2 8548 3,170,466 2/1965 Gingras 128---548 3,207,162 9/1965 McMurtrie 128548 3,221,750 12/1965 Blair 128-540 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 128-528, 547

"#1050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE m CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2 469 193 Dated August 5, Inventor(s) Larry L- Kreiger It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1 line 14, (column 9, line 61) the front rear edges" should be amended to read the front and rear edges All SEMED JAN 4970 (SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher 1;; m A Camus 1 ttcatmg Officer s oner of patents 

